Summary of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Historians and dramatists have a history of presenting their subjects differently. In order to ascertain the language used and the way they presented their protagonists, this paper looks at Shakespeare’s representation of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare wrote his play much after Caesar’s assassination; therefore, there is every possibility that Shakespeare could have used a lot more of dramatic presentations to influence his audience.
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar opens with a scene on the streets of Rome. Act I, Scene I. A street in Rome; enter Flavius, Marullus and some commoners. It begins in February 44 BC., when Julius Caesar enters Rome in triumph after a victory in Spain over the sons of his old enemy, Pompey the Great. A spontaneous celebration is interrupted when Flavius and Marullus, two political enemies of Caesar enter. It soon becomes apparent from their words that powerful and secret forces are working against Caesar. Flavius is the first one to echo this sentiment when he questions the carpenter, “Hence! home, you idle creatures get you home: Is this a holiday? what! Know you not” This speaks about the animosity Flavius has for Caesar. Caesar is far from worried about what has been going on in Rome that despite the warning from a soothsayer, “beware the ides of March,” Caesar ignores it saying that the soothsayer, “He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.” As Caesar leaves for the celebrations, Brutus, a close personal friend of Caesar, and Cassius, a long time political foe of Caesar stay back. Envious of Caesar’s power and prestige, Cassius probes to trace where Brutus’ deepest sympathies lie. Even though his friend, Brutus opposes Caesar on principle, and this makes Cassius inquire more about Brutus’ feelings if a conspiracy were to unseat Caesar. Brutus remains calm faced and says that he does share some common concerns about Caesar’s popularity. The men depart after promising to meet again. In the meantime, Caesar has his own doubts about Cassius and he tells Anthony, “Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.” Anthony however, thinks that Cassius is not dangerous as he is a noble Roman. The seed of doubt that was in Caesar’s mind becomes a reality when Cassius, gathers together a group of disgruntled and discredited aristocrats who are only too willing to assassinate Caesar. Cassius persuades Brutus to head the conspiracy so that he has the support of the aristocracy.
Soon, groups form to plan Caesar’s fate in Brutus’ orchard. Caesar’s assassination is fixed for the ides of March, the fifteenth day of the month. Caesar will be murdered in the Senate chambers by the concealed daggers and swords of the assembled conspirators. This is reflected by Brutus to Casca, to whom he says, “There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have moved already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise Of honourable-dangerous consequence.” After the orchard meeting, Brutus’ wife, Portia, suspects that something is wrong and fearing for her husband's safety, questions him. Brutus promises to reveal his secret to her later. The next scene shifts to Caesar. Its early morning of that fateful ides of March. The preceding night Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, terrified by horrible nightmares, persuades Caesar not to go to the Capitol, convinced that her dreams are portents of disaster. “What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day.” Caesar would have none of these as he tells Calpurnia that, “Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Caesar.” Caesar is adamant and says that such dreams have no effect on him and that he should go to the senate. Act II, Scene II, Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius and Cinna. By prearrangement, Brutus and the other conspirators arrive to accompany Caesar to the senate. Caesar, on seeing Brutus, is convinced that he is safe, but unaware, is actually surrounded by his to-be assassins. On seeing them, Caesar offers them some drinks, “Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;And we, like friends, will straightway go together.” In Act II, Scene III, despite the conspirators’ best efforts, a warning is pressed into Caesar's hand on the very steps of the Capitol, but he refuses to read it.
Artemidorus, reading a paper enters and reads, “Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna, trust not Trebonius: mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius.” He ends the note saying, “If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live; If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.” Caesar does not get to read the note and his life is in the hands of his assassins. In Act III, Scene I, Artemidorus makes one last attempt to warn Caesar by asking him to read the note, “Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly,” however, Caesar would have none of it and saying, “What, is the fellow mad?” walks into the senate with the others following him. A little later, Casca first, then the other Conspirators and Brutus stab Caesar. Caesar cries out in pain, “Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar”. Cinna is the first to rejoice Caesar’s death, “Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.” When Mark Anthony hears of the assassination, he comes to the senate and says, “O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?” This enrages Brutus who asks Anthony not to act is such a manner that could cost him his life. He asks him to think about the consequences for their action. In his parting speech, Brutus tells Anthony, “Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Caesar.” Hearing of Caesar's murder, Mark Antony, Caesar's closest friend, begs permission to speak at Caesar's funeral. Brutus grants him permission but only after he made his own. After his speech, Brutus leaves, and Antony begins to speak. Anthony begins by saying, “For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.” This brings about a commotion in the crowd. Why would Anthony use such words as “for Brutus’ sake?” Anthony was able to bring the Romans to his side when he talked about the will and how he was betrayed by Brutus; “For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel: Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! This was the most unkindest cut of all; For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquish’d him: then burst his mighty heart; And, in his mantle muffling up his face, Even at the base of Pompey's statua, Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.”
This speech had the crowd shout for revenge. “Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live!” Alarmed by the furor caused by Antony’s speech, the conspirators and their supporters flee from Rome and finally, from Italy. Antony, together with Caesar’s young grandnephew and adopted son, Octavius, and a wealthy banker, Lepidus, gather an army to pursue and revenge Caesar’s murder. In Act III, Scene III, when Cinna the poet meets people in a street in Rome, he is asked his name to which he says that he is Cinna the poet. The crowd hearing his name shouts, “Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.” Such is the mindset of Romans that they are willing to kill anybody with names that sound like that of their enemies. For months, Brutus and his friends manage to escape from Anthony and his army. However, they finally plan to confront Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus in one final battle. Act V is witnessed by the battle. The battle rages hotly. A fight takes place between Cassius and Pindarus stabs him and exclaims in joy, “Caesar, thou art revenged, Even with the sword that kill'd thee.” In Act V, Scene V, Brutus dies, saying; “Farewell, good Strato” and runs on his own sword. “Caesar, now be still: I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.” Leaderless, his forces quickly defeated, Brutus finds himself fighting a hopeless battle. Unable to face the prospect of humiliation and shame as a captive, he too takes his own life. As the play ends, Antony delivers a eulogy over Brutus’ body, calling him “the noblest Roman of them all.” Caesar's murder was avenged and order restored. The Roman Empire has been preserved.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Web, retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://www.william-shakespeare.info/act5-script-text-julius-caesar.htm
